This course provides students with a detailed background of the history of France as a state and nation, from its origins to the present day. Relying on historical facts and historical chronology, the course aims at presenting a portrait of France and the French people. In addition, the course examines political history, and in minimal details, examines social and economic aspects.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students are able to:
Characterize aspects of each of the Republics;
Understand France as both a “state” and a “nation”.
Method of presentation:
Lecture and group discussion based on a collection of assigned readings. Field study visits to museums complement discussion topics.
Required work and form of assessment:
Participation/attendance (20%); Written paper (10%); written summary of field study visit (20%); mid-term exam (20%); final exam (30%)
content:
Introduction
1. Course presentation, course objectives, review of required work and forms of assessment
2. Quiz to evaluate students’ knowledge of important French historical events
I. Origins and Bases of the French Nation
1. Prehistoric and antique peoples, the Gauls, the Gallo-Romans
2. Barbaric invasions, Clovis and the Merovingian Francs, the baptism of Clovis, the Carolingians, Charlemagne
3. Charlemagne: Roman, French or Germanique emperor? The Carolingien Renaissance and its limits
4. After Charlemagne: the birth of the “state” and the first “France”, Sermon of Strasbourg,
Treaty of Verdun
Readings: Lebédel, ch.1
II. Royal France and the Progressive Formation of the State
1. Advent of Captains and the feudal system
2. Reinforcement of the kingdom of France and royal authority
3. Emergence of national sentiment, from Bouvines to Joan of Arc
4. The royal state survives religious wars
5. The creation of divine right of the absolute monarchy
6. The century of Louis XIV
7. The Age of Enlightenment
8. From an old regime to the ancien régime
Readings: Lebédel, ch.2; Goubert, ch.1-11
III. The Nation and Freedom
1. The Great Revolution of 1789
2. From 1789 to 1792
3. How to stabilize the Revolution?
4. Did Napoleon continue or end the Revolution?
5. The work of the Revolution and of the Empire
6. Failures of the Revolution and the Empire
7. Restorations doomed to failure
8. 1848: Deceived hopes
9. Napoleon III : Does he merit the name of Napoléon le petit?
10. The permanent conflict between two Frances and political instability
11. Mid-term Exam
12. The Industrial Revolution and its effects
13. A Republic is born
14. The Third Republic: Finally a lasting Republic?
15. Republican principles
16. Franco-French crisis: The Dreyfus Affair
Readings: Lebédel, ch.3; Goubert, ch.12-17
IV. Terrible Ordeals of the Early 20th Century
1. Colonialism
2. World War I exhausts France
3. Danger in Europe increases
4. The strange defeat of 1940
5. Resistance and collaboration: The Dark Years
6. The Liberation: a new French enthusiasm
Readings: Lebédel, ch.3; Goubert, ch.18
V. France between Power and Decline
1. The Fourth Republic : A much-hated republic
2. The Gaullist republic or a rebellious national movement
3. Decolonization
4. France “establishes” Europe
5. France after Charles de Gaulle
6. Europe “escapes” France
7. France in the whirlwind of globalization
Readings: Lebédel, ch.3-5
8. Final Exam
Required readings:
Lebédel, Claude. Histoire de la France : La construction et l’évolution d’une nation. 2003.
---. Chronologie de l’Histoire de France. 2001.
A selection of readings from the following:
Caron F, Jean Favier. Histoire de France: La France des patriotes (1851-1918). Fayard : 1985.
Chaunu, Pierre. La France. Laffont/Pluriel: Paris, 1982.
Démier, Francis. La France au XIXè siècle (1814-1914). Seuil/Points, 2000.
Duby, Georges. Histoire de la France: Naissance d’une nation, des origines à 1348. Larousse,
1970.
Favier, Jean. La France médiévale. Fayard: 1983.
---. La Guerre de Cent ans. Fayard, 2005.
Goubert, Pierre. Initiation à l’histoire de la France. Fayard/Tallandier, Paris: 1984.
Jessenne, Jean-Pierre. Révolution et Empire, « Carré Histoire », Hachette.
Meyer, Jean, Jean Favier. Histoire de France: la France moderne, de 1515 à 1789. Fayard: 1985. Miquel, Pierre, Les guerres de religion. Fayard: 1980.
Paxton R. Vichy France. London: Barrie &Jenkins ou en français: La France de Vichy, Points/Seuil.
Pervillé Guy. De l’empire français à la décolonisation, « Carré Histoire », Hachette Supérieur, 2006. Pinon P. La Gaule retrouvée. Découvertes Gallimard, 1991.
Rials, S. Le miracle capetien (987-1789) : le livre du millenaire. Perrin: 1987.
Rousse Henry. Les annees noires: vivre sous !'occupation. Decouvertes Gallimard, 1992.
Sirinelli,J.F. La France de 1914 a nos jours. PUF: 2007.
Tulard Jean, Favier Jean, Histoire de France: Les revolutions (1789-1851). Fayard: 1985.
Werner K.F.,Jean Favier. Histoire de France: Les origines avant l'an 1000. Fayard: 1984.
This course provides students with a detailed background of the history of France as a state and nation, from its origins to the present day. Relying on historical facts and historical chronology, the course aims at presenting a portrait of France and the French people. In addition, the course examines political history, and in minimal details, examines social and economic aspects.
By the end of the course, students are able to:
Lecture and group discussion based on a collection of assigned readings. Field study visits to museums complement discussion topics.
Participation/attendance (20%); Written paper (10%); written summary of field study visit (20%); mid-term exam (20%); final exam (30%)
Introduction
1. Course presentation, course objectives, review of required work and forms of assessment
2. Quiz to evaluate students’ knowledge of important French historical events
I. Origins and Bases of the French Nation
1. Prehistoric and antique peoples, the Gauls, the Gallo-Romans
2. Barbaric invasions, Clovis and the Merovingian Francs, the baptism of Clovis, the Carolingians, Charlemagne
3. Charlemagne: Roman, French or Germanique emperor? The Carolingien Renaissance and its limits
4. After Charlemagne: the birth of the “state” and the first “France”, Sermon of Strasbourg,
Treaty of Verdun
Readings: Lebédel, ch.1
II. Royal France and the Progressive Formation of the State
1. Advent of Captains and the feudal system
2. Reinforcement of the kingdom of France and royal authority
3. Emergence of national sentiment, from Bouvines to Joan of Arc
4. The royal state survives religious wars
5. The creation of divine right of the absolute monarchy
6. The century of Louis XIV
7. The Age of Enlightenment
8. From an old regime to the ancien régime
Readings: Lebédel, ch.2; Goubert, ch.1-11
III. The Nation and Freedom
1. The Great Revolution of 1789
2. From 1789 to 1792
3. How to stabilize the Revolution?
4. Did Napoleon continue or end the Revolution?
5. The work of the Revolution and of the Empire
6. Failures of the Revolution and the Empire
7. Restorations doomed to failure
8. 1848: Deceived hopes
9. Napoleon III : Does he merit the name of Napoléon le petit?
10. The permanent conflict between two Frances and political instability
11. Mid-term Exam
12. The Industrial Revolution and its effects
13. A Republic is born
14. The Third Republic: Finally a lasting Republic?
15. Republican principles
16. Franco-French crisis: The Dreyfus Affair
Readings: Lebédel, ch.3; Goubert, ch.12-17
IV. Terrible Ordeals of the Early 20th Century
1. Colonialism
2. World War I exhausts France
3. Danger in Europe increases
4. The strange defeat of 1940
5. Resistance and collaboration: The Dark Years
6. The Liberation: a new French enthusiasm
Readings: Lebédel, ch.3; Goubert, ch.18
V. France between Power and Decline
1. The Fourth Republic : A much-hated republic
2. The Gaullist republic or a rebellious national movement
3. Decolonization
4. France “establishes” Europe
5. France after Charles de Gaulle
6. Europe “escapes” France
7. France in the whirlwind of globalization
Readings: Lebédel, ch.3-5
8. Final Exam
Lebédel, Claude. Histoire de la France : La construction et l’évolution d’une nation. 2003.
---. Chronologie de l’Histoire de France. 2001.
A selection of readings from the following:
Caron F, Jean Favier. Histoire de France: La France des patriotes (1851-1918). Fayard : 1985.
Chaunu, Pierre. La France. Laffont/Pluriel: Paris, 1982.
Démier, Francis. La France au XIXè siècle (1814-1914). Seuil/Points, 2000.
Duby, Georges. Histoire de la France: Naissance d’une nation, des origines à 1348. Larousse,
1970.
Favier, Jean. La France médiévale. Fayard: 1983.
---. La Guerre de Cent ans. Fayard, 2005.
Goubert, Pierre. Initiation à l’histoire de la France. Fayard/Tallandier, Paris: 1984.
Jessenne, Jean-Pierre. Révolution et Empire, « Carré Histoire », Hachette.
Meyer, Jean, Jean Favier. Histoire de France: la France moderne, de 1515 à 1789. Fayard: 1985. Miquel, Pierre, Les guerres de religion. Fayard: 1980.
Paxton R. Vichy France. London: Barrie &Jenkins ou en français: La France de Vichy, Points/Seuil.
Pervillé Guy. De l’empire français à la décolonisation, « Carré Histoire », Hachette Supérieur, 2006. Pinon P. La Gaule retrouvée. Découvertes Gallimard, 1991.
Rials, S. Le miracle capetien (987-1789) : le livre du millenaire. Perrin: 1987.
Rousse Henry. Les annees noires: vivre sous !'occupation. Decouvertes Gallimard, 1992.
Sirinelli,J.F. La France de 1914 a nos jours. PUF: 2007.
Tulard Jean, Favier Jean, Histoire de France: Les revolutions (1789-1851). Fayard: 1985.
Werner K.F.,Jean Favier. Histoire de France: Les origines avant l'an 1000. Fayard: 1984.